Joshua William Strangman.
A Quaker of Waterford and his connection with Ring
fishermen.
By Joan Johnson
(From some notes for the unveiling of a plaque
at Ballinagoul Pier, 22nd August 2008).
Left to Right; Roger Johnson, Martin Coffey, Tommy Graves (RIP) Eddie Cantwell, Joan Johnson,Nicholas Graves,William Fraher, Julian Walton agus Áine Uí Fhoghlu at the unveiling at Ring.
Born
28th Sept. 1796
Died
31st March 1874.
Member
of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Address
Sion Lodge, Ferrybank Waterford.
Member
of the Religious Society of Friends. ( Quakers)
Son
of William and Elizabeth (nee Wakefield) Strangman, married in Moyallon.
1794. They had 4 children.
Isabelle
1795-1828.
Joshua Wm. 1796-1874
Elizabeth
Wakefield 1798-1879.
Thomas
Hancock 1800-1869.
Ref.
Waterford Quaker Records.
Nicholas Graves,William Fraher,Joan and Roger Johnson
Strangman Background-
The
Strangman family came to Ireland in1652-3. Samuel settled at (Tinnemuck, ) near
Moate Co Westmeath. Some of the family moved to Waterford in 1772. and a
brewery was acquired by William Strangman and Co. in 1792.at Mary St.
Waterford., ( Egan’s History of Waterford)on the present site of the Diageo
brewery. Thomas Strangman ( 1847-1907) was influenced by the temperance
movement and disposed of his share of the business and bought a farm at Kinoith, near Shanagarry.(now the Ballymaloe
Cookery School).Wilson was born in 1879 and Lydia in1872.
Eddie Cantwell, Roger Johnson, William Fraher ,Joan Johnson, Nicholas Graves
( Friends graveyard Waterford)
Joshua
William Strangman
Governor
and treasurer of the Fanning Institute since its foundation in Waterford.
Member of the Mendicty Institute in Waterford.
Governor
of the Fever Hospital .
President
of Waterford Chamber of Commerce.
Member
of the (Quaker) Central Relief Com. established in Nov 1846, Dublin. He also
acted as Waterford’s correspondent to CRC.
Hon
Sec of Waterford Quaker Relief Com.
Early
Quaker Relief work in Waterford
Their Soup kitchen started on 21st
Nov 1846 in Waterford. Soup and bread was given out 4 times a week to 180 cases
but Joshua Wm Strangman. expected numbers to increase to 500-600. Clothing and
straw bedding was also given out. Further details of this work can be found in
‘The Famine in Waterford’ Geography Publications, 1995; ‘Transactions of the
Society of Friends in Ireland’, republished by De Burca in 1996
.
Joan with records at the Meeting House Waterford
Quaker
Relief work in Ring.- 1846-1848 ‘Much good effected through your means’
Collaboration
between Rev. James Alcock and Joshua Wm. Strangman
In the Autumn of 1846. Alcock wrote to Waterford
Quakers seeking assistance for the Ring Fishermen, who were in extreme
difficulty. He described the appalling situation of the fishermen…. Boats had
been pawned or sold to buy food and oars and lining of the boats had been used
for fuel. Up to 100 boats had been reduced to
6 or 8.
He
observed the fishermen wandering along the cliffs in idleness with apathy or
despair fixed on their countenance…. .’Famine
was raging at its height, while fever and dysentery was hurrying many to a
premature grave’. Strangman visited the area and thus began an intensive
collaboration between these 2 men. They were in contact regularly by letter and
also Strangman along with other Waterford Quakers visited Ring at regular
intervals to view progress.
Through my research of their correspondence
emerges fascinating insights into each of their characters and their common
purpose to help in a practical way the fishermen of Ring. Their vision of a
permanent fishing industry gradually developed. Relief was given to those most
likely to benefit directly through loans etc thus getting their boats out on the
water again and enabling them to support themselves, very quickly as it turned
out.
Friends Graveyard at Waterford
Waterford Quaker Response.
Boat scheme.
Through Rev Alcock aid was given by
Waterford Quakers in a well monitored
scheme. Small loans were arranged and food for the boat crew given. By the
summer of 1847 Rev Alcock reported that
49 boats were helped totalling 150 crew. Through this ongoing small fund to
individuals,the fishermen’s activities increased. Loans for new and better
boats and nets enabled more fish to be caught.
A
further 6 months on Rev. Alcock wrote in his report to Strangman. ‘We have had, thank God no destitution up to
the present time, all are beginning once more to look cheerfully, robust, and
comfortable. They are provided with sufficient supply of fishing gear for their
immediate wants, and therefore constantly employed when ever weather
permits’. He praised the Ring
fishermen for their hard work and perseverance and remarked that the living
conditions and their houses showed a great improvement.
A
shop for fishing gear was opened… items such as hemp, nets, lines were sold
there. Later nets for herring fishing and lobster pots
Restrictive Fishing Bye
Laws.
There was a very unfair day light restriction for the
fishermen on setting nets. In September 1848 Rev. Alcock wrote to Waterford
Quakers asking for help in this matter to try and have this law changed.
Strangman made many efforts to do so through contacts in Dublin and London. His
letters form a major collection both in the National Archives and Friends
Historical Library Dublin. Finally an enquiry by the Fisheries Board was held
in Dungarvan in 1848. Strangman attended this meeting and wrote a very
interesting account of the proceedings. He was particularly irate because this
law had been dropped around the English coast some years previously and should
have been dropped here. He spoke in support of change and while some success
was obtained then it was only in 1852 that the Bye Laws finally were changed to
enable the fishermen to take full advantage of their fishing rights.
Pier at Ballingoul.
Most urgent once the fishing at Ring had improved was
the need for a safe harbour. Activity
had increase and according to reports the coast was’ teaming with fish’ Rev
Alcock along with the local fishermen and others had been campaigning for a
pier to be built at Ballinagoul for sometime. In late 1847 he wrote to
Strangman stating that the Board of Works had sent down an engineer too survey
the coast for a suitable site but at that stage it was not certain where the
pier would be located. However a descion was made in favour of Ballinagoul and
when Strangman, who supported this venture visited there in December 1848 he
was very pleased to see work in progress with 60 men employed.
Early
in 1849 saw the pier rapidly advancing with stone from a local quarry. Heavy
gales tested the stability of the work and Rev. Alcock was very happy to say
that the local boats already taking shelter were safe even with unusual high
stormy tides and ‘not a stone was shaken or displaced.’
So
the fishermen and Alcock’s dream of a pier at Ballinagoul was reached and
larger boats were planned with Waterford Quaker support.
Direct
relief from Waterford stopped in 1849,soon after the pier was completed.
In 1852 Rev. Alcock
wrote his final report to the Central Relief Committee in Dublin( full text in
Transactions of the Society of Friends during the Famine in Ireland, published
in 1852.)
This
was a very encouraging description and he states’This year they have been left
altogether to their own resources, and it will be gratifying to your committee
to learn, that they have purchased with their own funds a sufficient quantity
of gear of all kinds, to enable them to carry on their fishing operation with
even increased energy; and that their exertions have crowned with signal
success. The quantity of fish taken nearly doubles that of former years’ He
comments on the. positive affect of the new pier at Ballinagoul, the lifting of
the fishing restrictions and the general well being of the community…… ‘ no trace of dilapidation to be seen; and the
poor fisherman, on his return from sea can sit down in comfort to his homely
fare, without molestation or eviction….. and that the fishermen are to be
distinguished from the same class of person around, by their robust and healthy
appearance, and by their comfortable and substantial clothing; and that their
boats are in good working condition.’…… it may fairly be inferred that much
good has been effected through your means;… and they (the fishermen) have
continued to support their families in comparative comfort for a considerable
period, even after your favours were discontinued’
.
Joshua Wm. Strangman died in 1874. His funeral was
unostentatious with a large attendance from the citizens of Waterford. He was
buried in the Quaker Burial Ground at Newtown Waterford. On his death the local papers stated
‘The
deceased was esteemed in life and lamented in death, for he was a gentleman of
most courteous of manner and amiable disposition….‘His private charities were
numerous, but unostentatious and his attention to the wants of the inmates of
the Fanning Institute in which he took such a deep interest, caused it to
flourish more than it otherwise would’
While Waterford Quakers ceased their support in 1849. Strangman
kept his interest in developments at Ring and quietly through Rev. Alcock gave
some personal aid, These 2 men over a relatively short time worked together at
a critical time for Ring. The fruits of their endeavours along with Dr. Graves
is rightly acknowledged by the erection of this plaque today. We salute those 3
unsung heroes, who cared to make a difference. Thank you Rev Alcock, Dr Graves
and Joshua Wm. Strangman.
I
thank those involved in making arrangement for this fitting commemoration and have
great pleasure in unveiling this plaque in their memory. May we all take some
inspiration from this event and try to make a difference ourselves.
Joan
Johnson on behalf of Waterford Quakers.
22nd
August 2008
On the occasion of a presentation of a painting by Bridget Kenneally of Ballinagoul, Ring,which was commissioned by Cumann Staire agus Oidhreachta ná nDéíse, under the chairmanship of Martin Coffey. Joan, on behalf of the Society of Friends accepted the painting, which now has pride of place at their meeting house at Waterford.
Pictured, martin Coffey, Bridget Kenneally, Artist, Joan Johnson and Nicholas Graves.
Ref.
The Famine in Waterford, chapter 10. Transactions.
Ref.
The Chronicle 4th April 1874 and Munster Express 4th
April 1874
